Alabama will face Oklahoma State on Friday

By Tommy Deas,Executive Sports Editor

Tuesday

May 26, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Jim Wells got his wish.

TUSCALOOSA | Jim Wells got his wish.

The head coach of the University of Alabama baseball team knew the Crimson Tide wouldn't be playing at home in the NCAA Tournament, so he just hoped his squad would land a bid within driving distance.Alabama learned Monday that it will play Oklahoma State this Friday in a first-round game at the Clemson (S.C.) Regional. Alabama is the second seed in the regional, with Oklahoma State seeded third. Host Clemson (40-19), the top seed in the regional, will play Tennessee Tech (30-22) in the other first-round game.Projections leading into the announcement of the 64-team field had Alabama playing anywhere from California or Oklahoma to Atlanta or Tallahassee, Fla.'It doesn't really matter where we were going,' sophomore second baseman Ross Wilson said. 'I kind of don't listen to those projections because they're never really right. We're excited about going to Clemson. We think it's a good draw for us.'Wells was more concerned with how close Alabama was going to play than who the opponent would be.'I had no idea where we were going, didn't care where we were going, but did have a preference that it would be nice to drive and not to fly to the West Coast or fly anywhere,' he said. 'A bus ride's nice. So, yes, I am happy that we're within, what, five or six hours of our destination.'Alabama's task will be to return to the level that it played at from late April through the middle of May, when the Tide won 12 out of 14 games. Starting with the Auburn series at the end of the regular season and through the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Alabama has lost four of its last five.'We're the same team,' catcher Vin DiFazio said. 'You suffer a couple of losses and people start questioning you, but that's the way the game's played. This week of practice has been intense and everybody's focused.'They're a big-name team, but so are we. We're the Alabama Crimson Tide and we're going to give it our best, and I think we'll make a big noise out at this tournament.'Alabama will be without third baseman/relief pitcher Jake Smith, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury at the SEC Tournament. Brandon May will take over at third base.'Smith is real good over there, but Brandon May will do just fine,' Wells said.Oklahoma State finished ninth in the Big 12 and did not qualify for its conference tournament, but went 23-6 in non-conference play and had the sixth-highest out-of-conference RPI (ratings percentage index) ranking in the nation.Wells and Alabama have history with Clemson and Oklahoma State. Wells' first NCAA Regional at Alabama was at Clemson in 1995. The Tide has played Oklahoma State twice in the College World Series.'Deja vu all over again,' Well said.The Clemson Regional is paired with the Tempe (Ariz.) Regional, hosted by No. 5 seed Arizona State. Should Alabama win its regional it would travel to Arizona State next weekend if the Sun Devils win their regional.Fourth-seeded Tennessee Tech coach Matt Bragga has ties to West Alabama. He coached at Bevill State Community College for three seasons, setting a school record for wins with 40 in 1999, and also coached Northport Post 208's junior American Legion team to a state championship in 1996. He served as an assistant coach at Tuscaloosa County High that year.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.

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